CARRIAGELESS PRINT HEAD ASSEMBLY FOR EXTRUSION-BASED ADDITIVE CONSTRUCTION
A carriageless print head assembly, for use in extrusion-based additive construction is disclosed. The carriageless print head features a cold end equipped with one or more timing belt attachment slots and bores for receiving bearings to achieve linear motion. The carriageless print head may be optionally equipped with a fluid channel for aiding in the regulation of the temperature of the print head cold end, and one or more thermal monitors for monitoring the temperature of the cold end of the print head.
1 . A print head, for use in extrusion-based additive construction, comprising:
a cold end having a front end, a rear end, a left side, a right side, a top surface extending from the front end to the rear end and from the left side to the right side, a bottom surface extending from the front end to the rear end and from the left side to the right side, and a receiver configured to receive a bearing; and
a hot end configured to provide a melt zone, the hot end being attached to the cold end.
2 . The print head of claim 1 , the cold end further comprising a second receiver configured to receive a second bearing,
wherein the receiver is a first receiver and the bearing is a first bearing.
3 . A print head, for use in extrusion-based additive construction, comprising:
a cold end having a front end, a rear end, a left side, a right side, a top surface extending from the front end to the rear end and from the left side to the right side, a bottom surface extending from the front end to the rear end and from the left side to the right side, and an attachment slot; and
a hot end configured to provide a melt zone, the hot end being attached to the cold end.
4 . The print head of claim 3 , the cold end further comprising a receiver configured to receive a bearing.
5 . The print head of claim 3 , the cold end further comprising a second attachment slot,
wherein the attachment slot is a first attachment slot.
6 . The print head of claim 4 , the cold end further comprising a second attachment slot,
wherein the attachment slot is a first attachment slot.
7 . The print head of claim 4 , the cold end further comprising a second receiver configured to receive a second bearing,
wherein the receiver is a first receiver and the bearing is a first bearing.
8 . The print head of claim 6 , the cold end further comprising a second receiver configured to receive a second bearing,
wherein the receiver is a first receiver and the bearing is a first bearing.
9 . The print head of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to monitor a temperature of the cold end.
10 . The print head of claim 1 , further comprising a temperature sensor configured to monitor a temperature of a heat break connected to the hot and the cold end.
11 . The print head of claim 10 , further comprising a second temperature sensor configured to monitor a second temperature of the cold end,
wherein the temperature sensor is a first temperature sensor and the temperature is a first temperature.
12 . The print head of claim 1 , wherein the hot end and the cold end have a unibody construction.
13 . The print head of claim 10 , wherein the hot end, the cold end, the heat break have a unibody construction.
14 . The print head of claim 8 , the first attachment slot being adjacent to and aligned with the first receiver, the second attachment slot being adjacent to and aligned with the second receiver.
15 . The print head of claim 14 ,
wherein the top surface is equipped with a first slot which extends downwardly towards the bottom surface and is configured to receive a first material feed.
16 . The print head of claim 14 ,
wherein the attachment slot extends substantially from the front end to the rear end, the first receiver extends substantially from the front end to the rear end, the second attachment slot extends substantially from the front end to the rear end, and the second receiver extends substantially from the front end to the rear end.
17 . The print head of claim 15 , the top surface further comprising a second slot which extends downwardly towards the bottom surface and is configured to receive a second material feed.
18 . The print head of claim 17 , further comprising a first heat break, wherein the first heat break is proximate to the first slot.
19 . The print head of claim 18 , further comprising a second heat break, wherein the second heat break is proximate to the second slot.
20 . The print head of claim 18 , the top surface further comprising:
a third slot which extends downwardly towards the bottom surface and is configured to receive a cooling fluid,
a fourth slot which extends downwardly towards the bottom surface and is configured to expel a cooling fluid, and
the cold end further comprises a fluid channel having a perimeter, wherein the perimeter of the fluid channel is contained within the cold end.
21 . The print head of claim 20 , wherein the fluid channel intersects with the third slot and the fourth slot,
wherein the fluid channel extends from the third slot to the fourth slot.
22 . The print head of claim 20 , the fluid channel further comprising an opening on either the first receiver or the second receiver, and a fluid channel plug sized to seal the opening.
23 . The print head of claim 20 , wherein the perimeter is bounded by the bottom surface, the top surface, the front end, the rear end, the first receiver and the second receiver.